章 3: AMSD

Later that evening, Claude woke up from a strange and frightening dream, It covered him in sweat as he stood seated by his bed. He trembles as his mind pictured what he dreamt again, but as he tries to remember everything his mind couldn't recall his nightmare. He turned his attention towards the door when he saw it opening, he quickly got up from his bed and run towards the person stepping in.

"Claude, your awake. What's wrong?" he asked when he saw the boy grab hold of his leg.

"Father, earlier I- I...." Claude paused when he realized he could stand and happened to just run from the bed towards the door. He quickly checks the gunshot from earlier and it seems it was all healed already, "Did you?"

"Of course, It hurt me they trespass in my school but for them to lay their hand on you is even worse."

"Father, I'm sorry I was too weak, I..." he cried

Alex comforted the young boy, "Come now, don't worry, someday you'll be strong than them and even stronger than me. You'll just need to really work hard to achieve that."

"Father don't worry, I'll protect this school and you," he said

"That more like it, come I brought you some porridge," he said as they walked back to his bed

While Alex was feeding Claude, Claude recalls a fragment of his dream. "Father I dreamt of you when I was a baby. The day you picked me up was not the first time I meet you, I've met you a couple of times before haven't I?"

Alex was surprised that he could recall such vague memory, "Yes, I have visited you before yet you were just a baby then."

"I can even remember mother voice but I can't picture her face at all," he said looking depressed

"Come now don't be upset, someday you'll have even greater memories than this." Alex comforted him.

After finishing his meal, Alex tucks Claude back to rest as they all rested for the night.

The next day, Claude woke up early and went for a run around the academy. It surprised everyone to see the young boy all covered in sweat when he returned home.

"Young Master, what happened?" Walden asked

Marta came running with a towel, "Let's get you dried up."

Alex chuckled at the sight of Claude determination, he did not expect he was serious about what he said last night, "Marta go prepare the food, I'll take care of him."

Alex carried Claude back to his room and dress him up. After breakfast, Alex brought Claude to the Academy with him. Back in his office, Claude just sat on the sofa patiently and did not move a muscle whilst Alex was busy with his meetings.

Alex's secretary checks on Claude time after time and brought him snacks as well. When he felt the young boy must be bored, he handed him some of the Academy lower yearbook to read since there aren't any children book around. Despite he believes he won't understand any of it at least he had something to do.

When Alex came back from the meeting and saw Claude seriously reading a book, it surprises him when he saw what book it was, "Claude are you alright?"

"Father, it said here that by using an Artificial Magic Storage Device one will be able to cast more magic since as well as the ability to summon a Caster Weapon," he said

"That true, why you asked?" he asked

"They've made prototypes of it yet none were successful since it either took too much energy on the user or the device couldn't withstand the energy and break down."

"Yes, the academy is one of the research facility trying to build the device."

"Well, father I notice that none of this device would work since the configuration of magic energy does not match the device. You cannot simply just give one person a device that can manifest magic without even matching it with one person energy flow. From what I see, all the device have great potential, the only thing missing is how to configure it with one's energy."

Alex was surprised with what Claude was telling him, he realized that everything he said made sense. The reason why the device never work since it was never built personally for a specific person but if they configured it and match it then it could actually work.

"Claude come with me?" he said

Since it was already lunch hours, loads of students and teacher were out in the opened and saw Alex and Claude walking together. Since both of them were wearing similar clothes everyone was shocked to see Alex with a child.

"I didn't know the Chairman had a son?"

"I bet his family doesn't know as well."

Alex notices in the corner of his eye the Claude was feeling anxious with everyone staring at him, he stops and carried the boy in his arm as Claude buried his head on his shoulder. A moment later, they arrived at a separate building from the main Academy. Inside was filled with people all wearing a white lab coat.

"Chairman, what you doing here? Why did you bring your son here too?" the man yelled

Alex smiled when his friend addressed the boy as his son, "My friend, I want you to meet my son Claude."

Claude turned around to face the man, he looked about the same age as his father, he wore lab goggle on his head and a white lab coat. His hair was mixed with white and black color, eyes brown, with a strange small scar on his right checks.

The man notices the boy's attention was on his scar, "It was all thanks to your mother, don't worry she didn't give me the scar someone else did but it was thanks to her this is all I got."

"Claude this is my good friend and your mother as well, his name is Professor Levin."

"Hello, Professor Levin." Claude politely said

"Anyways, I came here because Claude wishes to talk to you," Alex said

Claude was surprised and did not know what his father was talking about, "Me?"

"Didn't you wish to discuss AMSD." he said

"Oh..."

"Come Claude don't be afraid tell uncle what you have in mind about AMSD?" Professor Levin said

While the rest in the lab notice the Chairman appearance they all gather around and greeted him. While they were conversing with the Chairman, they overheard Claude explanation about AMSD to the Levin.

"Chief, did I just heard it wrong did the boy just explained why AMSD isn't working?"

"Chief could this be true?"

Levin did not answer everyone question as he ponders on Claude explanation about AMSD first. He thought, that what they need to do now is build a device in which they can sync the AMSD to its user.

"You really are your mother son." Levin proudly praised Claude

"Chief does this mean the boy explanation could work?"

Levin smiled, "It could work, I have an idea already of what we need to do but for now keep everything a secret."

"Yes, Chief."

Everyone then gathers around Claude as they bombarded him with questions, Claude was a little anxious but Levin and Alex assured him nothing bad will happen. So he bravely answered everyone queries putting each one of them speechless.

"Whose son is he?"

Alex did not hesitate and carried Claude in his arm, "Mine of course."

Everyone was dumbfounded to hear such revelation, they did not expect the chairman to have such a son.

"Chairman why did you hide such brilliant boy."

"Chairman you really are blessed to have such a son."

Everyone continued to praise both of them. It pleased Alex that everyone acknowledges him as his son despite they didn't look quite alike. "Then everyone excuses us, he'll come back here later after I feed him."

"Claude come back soon..."

"Will be waiting for you..."

Everyone was excited and couldn't wait for his return. Claude was so happy and gave all of them an adorable smile, "I'll be back everyone..." he said as he waves them goodbye.

After lunch, Alex did was he promise and had his secretary send Claude back to the lab. There everyone was busy explaining to Claude what they were working on and whether he would understand the purpose of each machine. They weren't surprised at all when he was able to grasp everything and understood them at such great speed. The even-handed him some of their top-secret project to see if he could help with some of them. Since Claude was not knowledgeable with the term, they handed him books for him to study while they continued to explain stuff to him.

"Chief, I can't believe that the Chairman had such a son."

"Our Academy will surely be put on top again."

Hearing those word made Levin happy, First High Academy used to be the best elite school but it lost it potential since they weren't able to produce outstanding discoveries or even strong Caster and Hunters. " I already see the hope for First High Academy and his standing right in front of us."

They all nodded and agreed to what the Chief said.

That evening when Claude returned home earlier than Alex, he was busy in his room drafting something and reading a pile of books. Walden helps him out by bringing all the boys he needed.

"Master welcome home." he said as he greeted the man who just steps inside the house.

"Is Claude asleep?" he asked

"Young Master is busy in his room, but don't worry he had eaten already and Marta has brought him snacks to his room."

Alex smiled knowing Claude determination. "Thank you, tell Marta I won't have dinner."

He headed upstairs to Claude room, he slowly opened the door and saw the pile of books and scrap paper everywhere. The little boy who was supposed to be playing around was more into studying and working. He did hear from his grandparents that he prefers to surround himself with books, when he went to pick him up, he was amazed at the collection of books in his room too and in there living room.

"Claude it late, you should sleep now." He steps inside the room as he carried him to his bed.

Claude yawned as Alex slowly place him on his bed, "Father, I've almost done the draft for my design for the AMSD and the configuration machine. But I'm not sure if it will work so I wanted to finish it so Professor Levin can check it out tomorrow."

"You don't need to be in such a hurry, Professor Levin is not going anywhere so you can take your time." He then planted a kiss on his forehead, "Now sleep alright, it already late."

Claude nodded his head and in no time he fell asleep.

Alex went around and check all the scrap paper, he was impressed to see such ideas coming out of his tiny brain just by reading some of these books. He wonders whether Claude could possibly possess such IQ or have such an amazing memory to remember all of this.

Early the next day, Claude continued with his run around the Academy but this time Alex joined him.

After that, Alex sends Claude to the lab living him under Levin care. Levin and Claude worked together on his idea throughout the day, everyone, of course, helped out as well and even took care of Claude. They ensure he eat and took a rest time after time.

"Professor, do you think it will work?" Claude asked

"No worries, I'm sure it will... Leave everything to me and don't worry about stuff like this. Your just a child Claude you have helped the research lab a lot already." he said

Claude smile from ear to ear hearing such words and praised. "I will..."